Auto Accident

Driving in New York, whether you’re in the city or out on the highways, means encountering construction areas—it’s just a part of life. Now that summer is here, construction will also heat up in the City. However, these construction zones present very real dangers: not only for construction workers, but also for drivers passing through the area. Read the rest »

While a little drizzle might not be enough to keep you off the city streets, there are some weather conditions so severe that you should just stay in for the night. Read the rest »

For many years, the number of annual deaths due to vehicle crashes was on the decline.

For the last two years, however, those numbers have started going up, and thousands of people are dying in avoidable accidents across the United States. New York is not free of dangers, and there is a very real concern for drivers and pedestrians across the city. Read the rest »

Nearly 40,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2015. Many of these deaths, if not all of them, were avoidable. Driving in New York is dangerous, thanks to busy streets and distractions. With care, however, you can keep yourself and your loved ones out of harm’s way. Remember these few important things when getting behind the wheel. Read the rest »

The Road to Zero initiative is a program spearheaded by several different safety and traffic organizations with a single goal: to end traffic fatalities in the next 30 years. While this may seem like a lofty goal, these groups believe they have a plan that can guide them toward that end and save countless lives. Read the rest »

Car accidents can be frightening and stressful situations. They usually come out of nowhere and can leave you panicked and dazed without a sense of what to do or where to turn. It is important to know what to do, and what not to do, after an accident ahead of time, so that if you do find yourself in an accident in New York, you will be ready and act appropriately.

Immediately following a collision, you should contact emergency services such as police and medical workers. Even if you think someone else might report it, it is still valuable to make the call yourself and make sure people are on their way. You should do everything you can, within reason, to not let any other drivers involved leave the scene, and make sure police take statements from them.

Read the rest »

Driving in New York around the holidays can be a treacherous proposition. Not only are the roads often icy and slushy, but other drivers can be more likely to make mistakes and lose focus due to long hours of shopping or work. Slowing down, being mindful of other people, and driving defensively can help protect you from the mistakes of other drivers and also make sure you do not commit lapses of judgment of your own.
One of the biggest things to be aware of when driving in winter in New York is hazardous road conditions due to weather. This includes not just snow and ice but also rain on warmer days. Once snow comes down, roads can become very dangerous due to loss of traction. It is important to slow down and drive at a speed that lets you maintain control of your vehicle. During heavy snow, you can experience white-out conditions that make visibility almost impossible. Drive slowly and make sure your hazard lights are on so that other drivers can more easily see you.

Read the rest »

In the past several years, ridesharing phone apps like Uber have exploded onto the scene and dominated the rides-on-demand market that was once monopolized by New York City cab drivers. Now, a driver without a taxi license can sign up to become a driver with the app, register his vehicle in the system, and start picking up riders. While the apps provide an easier mechanism for both hailing and paying for a ride, the company has come under fire recently for dodging liability in dangerous New York Uber accidents that result in injuries to passengers and drivers.

At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, LLP, because several of our clients have been injured at the hands of reckless taxi drivers, we decided to conduct a comparison of liability for Uber drivers versus NYC taxi drivers to figure out which entity provides more protection to passengers and pedestrians.

Read the rest »

New York City is home to an astounding number of taxis per square mile. Everywhere you look, yellow cabs are transporting tourists and New York residents about town.

With that said, hailing and riding in a taxi can be a harrowing experience and is not for the faint of heart. While cab drivers are familiar with every side street and hidden route in the city, they are also notorious for disobeying traffic laws and driving recklessly. At Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, LLP, our experienced New York Personal Injury Attorneys have handled numerous cases involving passengers injured by careless taxi drivers. Below we have gathered ten useful tips for staying safe in a New York cab.

Read the rest »

While the vast majority of vehicle crashes in New York result in only minor injuries or property damage, all-too-often there can be serious consequences after a collision. Neck and head injuries, broken bones, and lacerations from glass or metal can all occur and require extensive medical treatment for recovery. If you have been in a serious accident and have severe injuries, you need to know your rights and understand what to do next.

Read the rest »